Tillman gets 14th win, Orioles avert 4-game sweep vs Yankees

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Chris Tillman delivers during the first inning of a game against the New York Yankees in New York.

Posted
Friday, July 22, 2016 3:50 am

By Ben Walker

The Associated Press

NEW YORK &GT;&GT; Worn down and banged up, the Baltimore Orioles found the perfect remedy for all their ailments — a well-pitched game.

Chris Tillman tied for the major league lead with his 14th win, throwing four-hit ball for seven innings and helping the depleted Orioles avert a four-game sweep at Yankee Stadium, beating New York 4-1 Thursday.

"You could tell he was trying to give us what we really needed," manager Buck Showalter said.

The Orioles had lost four straight overall, costing them their lead in the AL East.

"We don't look at snapping anything. There's been ups and downs," Showalter said. "You try to get a grip on reality."

Orioles center fielder Adam Jones didn't play because of back spasms, catcher Matt Wieters missed his third consecutive game after being hit by a pitch in the foot and rookie outfielder Joey Rickard sat out with an injured thumb.

Showalter said Wieters and Jones were day to day.

Tillman (14-2) matched White Sox ace Chris Sale for the most victories in the majors. He won his fourth straight start, allowing exactly one run over seven innings in each outing.

The last Orioles pitcher to permit one or fewer runs while going at least seven innings for so long was Jim Palmer, who did it in six straight starts in 1978.

Tillman gave up three hits and two walks to the first eight batters, capped by Starlin Castro's RBI single. The tall right-hander then set down 16 of his final 17 hitters.

"Got in sync," Tillman said.

Brad Brach pitched the eighth and Zach Britton closed for his 30th save in as many chances.

The Yankees had won four in a row.

"I think you have to look at it, you took three of four from a good Baltimore team, and you have to move on," manager Joe Girardi said.

CC Sabathia (5-8) lost on his 36th birthday, leaving him 0-4 in his past six starts. He also stumbled and fell on the mound while trying to throw a pitch in the sixth, with the ball skittering onto the grass and resulting in a balk.

J.J. Hardy grounded a two-out, two-run single off the glove of shortstop Didi Gregorius in the first inning, and Jonathan Schoop sliced a two-out, two-run double in the seventh.

The Orioles began the day 3 for 33 with runners in scoring position since the All-Star break. Mark Trumbo, tied for the big league lead in home runs, threw down his bat after popping up in a key spot in the first, but Hardy soon delivered with the bases loaded.

Julio Borbon singled in the seventh for his first hit in the majors since 2013 with the Cubs, setting up Schoop's double that finished Sabathia.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Orioles: RHP Hunter Harvey, Baltimore's first-round draft pick in 2013, is set for Tommy John surgery. The 21-year-old pitched in the rookie and Class A levels this year, and has been beset by injuries during his pro career. "It's brutal," Showalter said

Yankees: 3B Chase Headley didn't start for the second straight game with an excused absence for personal reasons. He pinch hit in the eighth and grounded out.

TILLMAN TIME

Tillman struck out seven and walked two. He is 7-0 with a 3.23 ERA in 10 starts vs. AL East opponents this year.

UP NEXT

Orioles: RHP Dylan Bundy (2-2, 3.70) faces Cleveland at Camden Yards. The 23-year-old made his first major league start last weekend and gave up three home runs in 3 1/3 innings at Tampa Bay.

Yankees: The NL West-leading Giants visit Yankee Stadium for the first time since 2013. New York RHP Masahiro Tanaka (7-2, 3.15) is 4-0 in his past six starts. He has never pitched vs. San Francisco. Giants ace LHP Madison Bumgarner (10-5, 2.12) gets his first look at the Yankees.

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